Counseling Staff

Steve Rowlands, MMFT, LPCS, LMFT serves as Director of the Counseling Center. He is a graduate of ACU's marriage and family therapy program (an AAMFT approved program). He is a Clinical Fellow and Approved Supervisor of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapist. Steve is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas. Additionally, Steve is an adjunct faculty member for the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy. He specializes in family and relationship issues, as well as adjustment and life cycle issues.

John Casada, M.D., Ph.D. serves as the university psychiatrist for the Student Health Services. A graduate of ACU, he received his medical degree and Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. He is board certified in General Adult Psychiatry, and has over 10 years of experience providing pharmaco and psychotherapies to adolescents and adults. He has been an academic psychiatrist at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, where he engaged in research, general medical and psychiatric education and clinical psychiatry before joining ACU in 2008. John has also served as a deacon for the professional counseling ministry at the Northside Church of Christ in San Antonio.

Karen Douglas M.S., LPC is a graduate of ACU's Counseling Psychology program. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas and a clinical member of Abilene Association of Marriage & Family Therapists. Karen is a native of Barbados and lives in Abilene with her husband and 2 daughters. She employs a solution-focused and cognitive-behavioral approach and has worked with individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, disabilities, cross-cultural adjustment, identity and relationship difficulties. Karen is interested in cultural diversity, bicultural adjustment, multicultural identity and cross-cultural interactions. Beyond the office, she enjoys quality time with her family, exploring other countries, Zumba, and historical fiction.

Tim Ehrhart, MMFT, LMFT is a graduate of ACU's Marriage and Family Therapy program (an AAMFT approved program). He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Texas and is also a Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Tim specializes in relationship and family issues, as well as mood and anxiety disorders. He lives in Abilene with his wife Anne, who is also a Marriage and Family Therapist, and their new born baby Campbell.

Gretchen Etheredge, M.MFT, LMFT is a graduate of ACU’s Marriage and Family Therapy program (an AAMFT approved program). She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Texas and a Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists. Gretchen’s areas of special interest include emotional wounds associated with traumatic situations or past relationships and identity exploration. She uses a client-centered, systemic approach and has worked with individuals, couples and families struggling with a variety of difficulties, including: Stage of life adjustment; Depression; Loneliness; Sexual abuse issues; Marital and Family stress; Spiritual issues; and Substance abuse.

Cara Flanders, MMFT, LPC, LMFT is a graduate of ACU’s AAMFT (American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy) approved Marriage and Family Therapy program. She is a Clinical Fellow of the AAMFT, an AAMFT-approved supervisor, and both a Licensed Professional Counselor and Supervisor, as well as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Supervisor in the state of Texas. Additionally, Cara serves as an adjunct faculty member for the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy. She specializes in family and relationship issues, depression, eating disorders, cross-cultural adjustment, care of missionaries, and has extensive experience counseling in non-Western contexts.

Cindy Gravitt is the office manager of the Medical and Counseling Care Center and has been part of our team since May 2011. She is a third generation graduate of ACU and loves being back on campus. She and her husband, Van, keep busy with their four boys Denver, Caleb, Elijah, and Corey.

Cindy has been a videographer and photographer since 1996 and produces football highlight videos for Cooper High School.

Abby Pimentel is the administrative assistant of the Medical and Counseling Care Center.